Kairi Look
Kairi Look (born 19 April 1983) is a children’s writer and author of short prose.
Look was born in Tallinn. She graduated from the University of Tartu as a BSc in physiotherapy in 2005 and from the University of Amsterdam as an MSc in children’s rehabilitation in 2008. She has upgraded her qualifications in the same speciality in Finland and at Ghent University in Belgium. In 2014, she completed a course of creative writing at Drakadeemia (a private school in Tallinn specializing on theatre-specific creative writing and other theatre-related subjects) and, in 2015, stayed at the Cité internationale des arts creative residency in Paris. She has been a member of the Estonian Writers’ Union from 2015.
Look’s first book for children appeared in 2012. Her stories for children are published in the magazines Täheke, Hea Laps and Pere ja Kodu. Kairi Look’s stories are characterized by the joy of life. The author appreciates beautiful language and finds that the road to great literature goes through reading of children’s books. Her children’s books have been translated into many languages.
Although Look was already a recognized and translated children’s writer, her breakthrough as a writer came with the novel for adults Tantsi tolm põrandast (‘Dance the Dust Away from the Floor’, 2025), which examines the spaces and boundaries of a childhood and a generation in the crumbling society of the 1980s and newly independent Estonia. With the support of her great-grandmother’s life and teachings, the main character heads abroad in search of light, dance, freedom and herself. Critic Eik Hermann noted that Tantsi tolm põrandast is boldly exploratory in form as well. The novel earned Look the title of Writer of the Year and the Rahva Raamat Book of the Year Award; it was one of the most talked-about literary events of 2025.
Kairi Look has also written short stories for adults. In 2018, Look won the annual prize of the journal Looming for her short story Relaps.
Kairi Look has translated several children’s books from Dutch into Estonian and Manon Uphoff’s short story Sitt (‘Shit’), which was published in the collection Maailma novell (‘Short Stories from Around the World’, 2024).
L. P. (Translated by I. A.)
Books in Estonian
Novels
Tantsi tolm põrandast. Tallinn: SA Kultuurileht, 2025. 164 lk. [2. trükk: 2025.]
Children’s books
Leemuripoeg Ville teeb sääred. Tallinn: Tänapäev, 2012. 161 lk.
Lennujaama lutikad ei anna alla. Tallinn: Tänapäev, 2014. 207 lk.
Peeter, sõpradele Peetrike. Tallinn: Tänapäev, 2014. 57 lk.
Piia Präänik kolib sisse. Tallinn: Tänapäev, 2015. 103 lk. [2., parandatud trükk: 2022.]
Härra Klaasi pöörane muuseum. Tallinn: Evera, 2016. 71 lk.
Sasipäiste printsesside saar. Tallinn: Päike ja Pilv, 2016. 28 lk.
Piia Präänik ja bandiidid. Tallinn: Tänapäev, 2019. 142 lk. [2., parandatud trükk: 2023.]
Piia Präänik ja sõnasööbik. Tallinn: Koolibri, 2021. 119 lk. [2., parandatud trükk: 2024.]
Peeter, sõpradele Peetrike. Joonistanud Elina Sildre. Tallinn: Koolibri, 2022. 57 lk.
Kiludisko. Illustreerinud Ulla Saar. Tallinn: Puänt, 2023. 112 lk.
Natuke suur. Pildid Anne Pikkov. Tallinn: Koolibri, 2024. 34 lk.
